POLICE forensic scientists were still sifting yesterday through the remains of a fire in which a 30-year-old woman died.
A police spokesman said the cause of the fire in the ground floor flat in Coquet Gardens, South Stanley, County Durham, had yet to be determined.
Victoria Barker, who lived with her partner - identified last night as John Collings, 46 - died of smoke inhalation.
Neighbours described how Mr Collings had managed to flee the blaze just before 11am on Saturday. He was beaten back by thick smoke when he tried to reach Miss Barker.
Firefighters with breathing apparatus found Miss Barker dead in the living room.
A police spokesman said last night: "Specialists from the forensic science laboratory in Wetherby have been sifting to help us establish the cause of the fire and sequence of events.
Mr Collings is still detained in hospital
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